mary mosiman deputy of elections iowa secretary of state’s office [email protected] (515)...
TRANSCRIPT
CITY ELECTIONS 2012
RESOURCES
Secretary of State web page
Auditor Calendar for City Elections
City Clerks Guide
Candidate Guide for City Election
Filing Officer’s Guide
County Auditor
City Attorney
BASICS
City Election held in odd-numbered years
1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November
Election process:
Primary election and regular city election
Regular city election
Regular city election and runoff election
NOMINATION PROCESSES
Clerk must certify method of nomination adopted by city ordinance
90 days before regular city election
Methods of Nomination
Primary Election
Nomination by Petition, Chapter 45
Nomination by Convention, Chapter 44
Runoff Election
PRIMARY ELECTION (§376.6)
If no ordinance is filed naming the nomination process
Nomination by petition
Only held if more than 2 candidates filed nomination papers to run for an office
Occurs 4 weeks before Regular City Election
Only offices with more than 2 candidates are included on the ballot
2 candidates who receive the most votes are nominated and will go on the ballot for the Regular City Election
NOMINATION BY PETITION (CH. 45)
By city ordinance
Regular city election is the only election held
Candidates collect signatures on petitions to get name on ballot
NOMINATION BY CONVENTION (CH. 44)
By city ordinance
Regular city election is the only election held
Candidates are nominated by nonparty political organization (NPPO) conventions to get name on ballot
RUNOFF ELECTION (§376.9)
By city ordinance
No candidate for an office receives a majority of votes cast
OR
Write-in candidate receives a majority of votes cast and declines office
Held 4 weeks after Regular City Election (Candidates cannot withdraw)
PUBLIC MEASURES (§376.4)
Determine if city council plans to include any public measures on the ballot at the Regular City Election
Public measures must be filed with county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on:
For cities with primary election provisions: 39 days before the primary election (early September)
For cities with any other nomination method: 46 days before the regular city election (late September)
NOMINATION PAPERS
Nomination papers available:
City clerk’s office
County auditor’s office and website
Secretary of State’s office and website
Nomination papers include:
Affidavit of Candidacy
Nomination Petitions
OR
Certificate of Nomination by Convention (NPPO)
NOMINATION PAPERS
No “first day” for collecting signatures
Signers must be still qualified at time the nomination papers are filed
Instruct candidate to complete top of every petition page
Inform candidate of nomination process and number of signatures needed
Provide candidate guides, calendars, and office list
SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS
Nomination by Petition (Ch. 45)
Based on population 3,500 or greater = 25 signatures
100 – 3,499 = 10 signatures
Less than 100 = 5 signatures
Nominations by Convention (Ch. 44)
Nomination petition signatures not required.
Convention certificate must show attendance by at least 10 eligible electors Includes one person from each of at least ½ of precincts in the
city (ex: city has 6 precincts, need a person from at least 3 different precincts)
SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS
Primary or Runoff
At least 2 % of votes cast for the office the last time it was on the ballot (not fewer than 10 signatures)
At-large seats =
(Total number of votes cast ÷ Number of seats on ballot at election 2 years ago) × 0.02
Always round up fractions to the next whole number
FILING DEADLINES
Primary Election
First day: Monday, August 12, 2013
Last day: Thursday, August 29, 2013 – 5 p.m.
Regular City Election
First day: Monday, August 26, 2013
Last day: Thursday, September 19, 2013 – 5 p.m.
No early or late filing
RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS
Must be filed with city clerk or clerk’s designee
City clerk’s offices must be open until 5 p.m. on the last day of filing
Someone else may deliver completed nomination papers for the candidate to the city clerk
Nomination papers must be filed together
Affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions
OR
Affidavit of candidacy and certificate of nomination by convention
RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS
Review affidavit of candidacy for:
Name of office and district or ward (if any) Vacancy candidates: “to fill vacancy” marked
Name of candidate
Candidate’s address (street address, city, zip, and county)
Signature of candidate and notarization
Nothing can be added to a notarized document
RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS
Review nomination petitions:
Pages must be fastened together
Information on top of each page is completed and is the same as is on affidavit
Minimum number of signatures is met
Do not count signature lines: Without a signature Without a signer’s home address (street name and
house number) That are outside the applicable district
RECEIVING NOMINATION PAPERS
Return unacceptable papers to be corrected and resubmitted if time permits
File stamp affidavit and nomination papers with date and time
Issue receipt for nomination papers
NOMINATION PAPERS
Keep photocopy of each affidavit
Keep list of candidates’ names and offices for which they have filed
Deliver all nomination papers to county auditor by 5 p.m. on:
Primary Election: Friday, 39 days before the primary election (early September)
Regular City Election:Friday, 46 days before the regular city election (late September)
WRITTEN OBJECTIONS (§376.4 & 44.4)
Questions about candidate qualifications or objections to nomination papers must be made in writing
Filed with city clerk
For cities with primary election provisions: 63 days before Regular City Election
For cities with any other nomination method: 42 days before Regular City Election
CANVASS OF VOTES
Primary Election
Second day after Primary no earlier than 1:00.
Regular City Election
For cities without runoff provisions
Monday or Tuesday at regular Board of Supervisors meeting following election
For cities with runoff provisions
Second day after Regular City Election no earlier than 1:00.
Runoff Election
Monday or Tuesday at regular Board of Supervisors meeting following election
WRITE-IN VOTES
Regular City Election in cities with primary elections or elections conducted under Ch. 44 or Ch. 45
If a write-in candidate is elected:
Candidate doesn’t have to file an affidavit of candidacy
Person is declared elected
WRITE-IN VOTES
If a write-in candidate is elected and declines the office:
Winning write-in candidate must submit letter of resignation to city clerk by 5 p.m. the 10th day after the canvass
City clerk notifies the person who received the next highest number of votes
If there is more than one person who received the next highest number of votes, lots are drawn
If accept, that person is duly elected UNLESS
They decline in writing within 10 days after notice from city clerk, then the office is vacant
OR
A petition is filed requesting a special election. The petition must be signed by eligible electors of the city equal in number to 25% of the people who voted for the office in question.
WRITE-IN VOTES
City Primary Elections
Any person who received write-in votes and who wants to appear on Regular City Election ballot must file an affidavit of candidacy Must be filed by 5 p.m. on the day following the
canvass
Can be filed with city clerk or county auditor
WRITE-IN VOTES
Cities with Runoff Provisions
If a write-in candidate is elected and declines the office: Write-in winner must file letter of resignation with
city clerk or county auditor by 5 p.m. on the day following the canvass
All remaining write-in persons who wish to be considered candidates for runoff election must file affidavits of candidacy with city clerk or county auditor by 5 p.m. on the 4th day following the canvass
WRITE-IN VOTES
Cities with Runoff Provisions
If a runoff is necessary and write-in votes were cast: Everyone who received write-in votes must file an
affidavit of candidacy
Runoff election held even if one of remaining candidates has a majority after write-in votes were disregarded
VACANCIES
City Council may fill by appointment or Special Election
Appointment Made within 40 days after vacancy occurs
City council must publish notice of intention to appoint and the right of the people to call a special election by petition
Cities with runoff provisions or Ch. 44 or 45 provisions
Vacancies occurring on or before 52 days before the regular city election must be filled at the regular city election (unless filled by an earlier election)
Offices with vacancies filled by appointment must be on the ballot
VACANCIES
By special election by petition
Petition must be filed with city clerk within (whichever is later):
14 days of publication of intent to appointment
OR
14 days after the appointment is made
Signature Requirements =
Total votes cast for that office at last regular election in which office was on ballot
Population of City Signatures (whichever is less)
10,000 or less 15% or 200
10,001 – 50,000 15% or 1,000
50,001 or more 10% or 2,000
VACANCIES
Nominations
Candidate signature formulas and petition forms are the same
Filing periods: Cities with Primary Election provisions
First day: as soon as notice is given to the auditor
Last day: Friday, 53 days before election, noon
All other nomination methods First day: as soon as the notice is given to the auditor
Last day: Friday, 25 days before election, noon
SPECIAL ELECTIONS (§39.2)
Special City Elections may be called on the first Tuesday in the following months:
March
May
August
November (in combination with the regular city election or the federal general election)
Special elections to fill vacancies may be held on any available Tuesday provided sufficient notice is given to county auditor
ELECTION COSTS (§47.3)
The county auditors conduct the city elections
The cost of conducting city elections paid by the city
Costs included but are not limited to: Ballots Election register & eligibility documents Newspaper publication Precinct election officials Canvass materials Preparation & installation of voting equipment Other costs
RESOURCES
County Auditor’s Office
City Attorney
Secretary of State’s Office
www.sos.iowa.gov
515-281-0145
Mary Mosiman – Deputy of Elections
515-281-5866